One of those Love/Hate Kind of Things

I have a love/hate response to some things in this country.  With these things there is no in-between, passive feeling.  It is either a big love or a big hate and sometimes I flip between the two in a heartbeat. Right now my focus is la feria – the fair.  

When I saw that first ride – the Aladdin-go-round – waiting expectantly – solo - on the empty lot at the entrance to the Colonia, I hoped it was just an attraction for some upcoming store opening.  But, there was no mistaking the intent when the long poles arrived on the flatbed truck and were assembled into the skeleton of a Ferris wheel.  Perhaps that’s when the love/hate reaction began - I think it’s the very Ferris wheel I first rode at the Ridgetown Fair in 19mumblemumble. 

As I stood trying to imagine what the other heaps of

plastic and steel would become, I met a few friends with their children.  The moms too had that love/hate double-emotion type of response too, but more because they knew how much bedlam there would be in their little homes as the kids pleaded for a chance to go to the fair at the same time as they were carefully stretching the pot of beans with more water. 

So, I thought about what it is that I really hate about that collection of four amusement park rides, booth for a few games, tiny shed with the prizes and loot, popcorn stand, French fry stand, and of course ticket booth.  And my first hate was directed at the ticket booth.  Sometimes people with problems with money have problems with money for a reason. 

Now that the fair is up and operational I have a big hate for – the music.  The first night that it came on – two weeks ago – we thought it was coming from next door.  As with any new experience, we made lots of false guesses before getting an understanding of what was happening.  Monday through Friday the music is outside our door.  But Saturday and Sunday?  We’re sure the fair is in our house!  Last Saturday, just for entertainment, I timed one of the “songs”.  It was 6 minutes of a single repetitious 4-beat bar.  Ba-boom-ba-ba-boom.  The rhythm and melody – that was it.  It’s kind of animal-like.  There’s sometimes Spanish words, and sometimes English words, and sometimes barn-talk words.  Monday through Friday the music begins shortly after 5:00 pm and ends sometime after 9:00.  But, last Saturday it escalated in intensity through until 11:08.  As I write, the same synthetic music song we have heard each night is beginning.  And since it is midweek we may be on our last set – or not….  So, I am currently feeling the big hate.

But, then there’s the love response.  The children of those moms who had told me that they had no money for the fair were dashing back and forth between the Aladdins and their moms squealing with excitement. What kids don’t get excited about the potential of fun and fear?! 

On Monday, Leidy, one of our sponsored kids was at our house and shared with me the fun she had at the fair last Saturday – likely at the very same time I was covering my head with my pillow trying to block out that pulsing music to get some sleep.

Leidy told me of the pleasure her whole extended family had for four hours at the fair. She tells me that people refer to the Ferris wheel as “el ruedo de Chicago”**.  For 30 lempiras - $1.50 US, you can get a ticket.  She was too afraid to go, but her aunt went and came off very dizzy and spinny.  Leidy opted for the Dragon Ride at 15 lempiras and felt properly jostled by that. They enjoyed a game using toy guns to shoot at birds for prizes.  I’m not sure how good she is at shooting birds but she had fun.  There was food – “really good food”.  (Leidy doesn’t like lots of foods so it must have been good.)  She had French fries, an apple-fritter type treat with sprinkles (if I understood right?), and her little brother (really her nephew) had cotton candy. 

Leidy also was excited by the roulette wheel.  “You put out 1 lempira and say “duck” or whatever image you think will win.  If your 1 lempira wins, you get 20 lempiras!”  She won 400 lempiras from her 20 lempiras! I don’t know why – I was trying to teach her about the odds of winning at such a thing and she couldn’t understand that.  “I had 400 lempiras and went to the store and bought a key(ring), Alexander got a toy gun.” She gave her mom the rest of the money. I thought it was just “feria-money” but she says that it is real money.  I don’t know…..

A few days ago, I was visiting in the Colonia and noticed some women who appeared approachable sitting beside a tiny travel trailer.  I met Virginia and Angela who work for the fair.  They help prepare the French fries and sell things.  My BIG question for them was – “how much longer will you be here?”  I really tried to ask it without letting out my “hate” response.  They tell me they will be here 15 (now 13) more days.  We leave before that.  Ok, only one more weekend for us! 

I was interested to find out that they will move on to another town on the island for a month or more.  Between our Colonia and the next stop they get three days to go home to their real houses on the Mainland.  The life of the carny, I guess.  When I asked if the music was loud for them each night they indicated that it was part of the feria. When they found out where we lived (over the hill), they covered their ears and smiled in understanding.  They’ve either been told before, or have an empathy for a Gringa lady.

Franklin spoke to us about his Ferris Wheel ride:  "oooooh, never again.  I tell Gina never again!"  "Thirty lemps for my life?!"  "My heart was hurting in my chest!" Franklin may currently have a hate - at least for the Ferris Wheel.  

We haven’t gone to the fair.  It starts after dark and we don’t like being out and about in the dark.  Saturday is just a few nights away.  The lempiras for the fun will be found even for the people who will leave food, water and power bills unpaid.  The music will thunder over our hill winning over our TV volume.  We will bury our heads under our pillows grumbling in our non-sleep.  But, we know that choices are important too. And choosing to enjoy the carnival-banquet between the rain and bills and tough things is a reason for squeals of glee and faces filled with delight.  WE have seen pictures of friends and their kids having such fun as they anticipate the juegos mecanicos!  I have heard the stories as they recount their adventures.  And we can chalk this up to another thing to hate and love - and, try to understand - while we make our home here.

            **The original Ferris Wheel was designed and constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. as a landmark for the 1893 World's Exposition in Chicago.